Cold weather

[Adrienne-m]

Hey all! Wondering if I need to work about the negative nighttime temps were supposed to have this week? All my birds are cold hardy breeds except my rooster (who’s been pecked bald a bit but is slowly regrowing feathers). They have a heater panel in the coop. I’ve been hesitant to heat the whole coop

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your birds should be fine down to -20F or so as long as you have adequate ventilation without drafts, especially since they have the option of using the heat if they want it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

@21hens-incharge Good idea on removing the water dish at night, will probably do that a bed time.

I just ran out to snap some pics I love winter but I hate below zero temps. And it’s DANG cold out tonight! I also have slats in the ceiling which leads to a 1 inch channel of ventilation in the ceiling that goes out the peak of the gable.

That ridge vent is good. Just keep snow from building up on it if you can.

Be sure to keep that window open too. I know how tempting it can be to close it.

That is not a nice temperature for us humans at all. The birds look good in their feather coats!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I was thinking the same thing today, in our location we are forecasted -10 temps.

I just had the hubby put a thermometer in the coop this AM up by the roost. So hopefully I will get a good reading of the coop temp.

We don't have a heater,though we have it well insulated. We do have a light in the coop so I'm contemplating leaving it on all night. If the temp gets too low.

A big word of caution about leaving a light on in the coop all night if I may.
It will keep them awake. Tired birds are cranky birds and that light can lead to bloody fights.

What is your ventilation like?
A well ventilated coop is far more beneficial to the birds than a buttoned up insulated coop.
Moist air needs to rise and exit the coop to help prevent frostbite.

We have had many nights at negative 10 or colder. With adequate (ample) ventilation no frostbite here.

I recommend getting a humidity gauge to put inside the coop and one to put outside the coop. With adequate ventilation the coop should be less than 5% higher humidity than outside the coop. If it is more than 5% higher in the coop do a clean up of all droppings and check again in an hour. Still humid in there? Cut more ventilation holes.

 

[21hens-incharge]

@21hens-incharge I have quite a bit of ventilation, I have a horizontal window facing the semi/tarped run. Its on the other side of the coop from the roosting bar and is on a chain and can be opened as wide or narrow as I want.

They have been fine all winter in 20s temps, but I was concerned because the last few days were in the 40s. Tshirt weather for us! And within a day the polar vortex has come and we are going to be around -10 all of next week.

Any pics?

Keep them dry and keep that vent open and they should do fine.
If you keep water in the coop removing it at night is a good idea. It will stop it from adding unnecessary moisture. The sleeping birds don't get up to get a drink so it certainly won't hurt them to have it removed at night....or better yet kept in the run.

We are headed to a cold spell here too. I am not a fan of those cold spells at all.

 

[MIgardengal]

@21hens-incharge Good idea on removing the water dish at night, will probably do that a bed time.

I just ran out to snap some pics I love winter but I hate below zero temps. And it’s DANG cold out tonight! I also have slats in the ceiling which leads to a 1 inch channel of ventilation in the ceiling that goes out the peak of the gable.

 

[Ridgerunner]

It sounds like it is your first winter with chickens. I took this photo when it was +4 Fahrenheit. It had been colder, -4 F overnight, but it had warmed up by the time I got my camera. The coldest these had been through was only -8 F a few days earlier. I open the pop door every morning regardless of weather and let them decide if they want to come out or not. If a cold wind is blowing they stay in. If the wind is not blowing they come out.

I hesitate to mention this as people probably won't believe me but growing up I saw chickens sleeping in trees when it was -10 Fahrenheit or colder. These were single combed full sized fowl, a barnyard mix with a lot of game in them. They were not on a bare branch overlooking a bluff squawking defiantly in the teeth of a blizzard. They were in a sheltered area out of the wind. Since they were in a tree they had great ventilation, can't get any better.

If your coop provides good wind protection and enough ventilation so the air is pretty dry your chickens should be OK. I don't know where you are located but people pretty far up north in the US have stopped frostbite problems by opening up their coops to increase ventilation.

 

[Mrs. K]

Hello winter! We too are COLD.

We are going to be cold for a week, last week in the 50-60 degrees, this week not getting above 0 for some of the days, not predicted above 10 degrees for the 10 days ahead. A 60 degree+ drop.

Do not be surprised if feed consumption goes down, in the first day or two of cold weather. Perfectly normal, but the first time it happened to me, I was nervous.

Do worry about dry and ventilated. I live in arid country, never have frostbite issues until it warms up and thaws, then cold that night. Dry coops with deep bedding can really help with this. Do sprinkle the top of the bedding with scratch - and the girls will flip it and break up gobs of poop into drier smaller bits. Allowing that to dry out more easily.

This is when I hate not having heated water, but will take down water twice instead of once a day.

Collect your eggs twice a day too!

Mrs K

 

[MIgardengal]

@21hens-incharge I have quite a bit of ventilation, I have a horizontal window facing the semi/tarped run. Its on the other side of the coop from the roosting bar and is on a chain and can be opened as wide or narrow as I want.

They have been fine all winter in 20s temps, but I was concerned because the last few days were in the 40s. Tshirt weather for us! And within a day the polar vortex has come and we are going to be around -10 all of next week.

 

[aart]

Hey all! Wondering if I need to work about the negative nighttime temps were supposed to have this week? All my birds are cold hardy breeds except my rooster (who’s been pecked bald a bit but is slowly regrowing feathers). They have a heater panel in the coop. I’ve been hesitant to heat the whole coop

Neg C or F?
Pics of your coop, inside and out, would help here.
There's some good tips already mentioned on the posts by @MIgardengal here.
But knowing your specifics @Adrienne-m would help us help you too.

Also....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!